Blood for the Blood God

Twenty sketch comedy teams have been selected as the 2017 recipients of Fresh Blood, the highly successful joint initiative between ABC and Screen Australia designed to unearth a new generation of comedic talent.

Each team will receive $15,000 to create 3 x 3-5min sketches that will be released on iview in the second half of 2017. In addition, all teams will benefit from a two-day workshop in June led by industry representatives where they will explore how to work towards a sustainable career.

Mike Cowap, Investment Manager at Screen Australia said: “Fresh Blood is such an incredible opportunity for emerging comedy filmmakers. What quickly became apparent with this exciting new cohort – many of whom were from diverse backgrounds – was that so many of the talent had already built significant audiences on social media, with impressively risky, witty and weird comedy. We’re thrilled to give these unique voices invaluable access to a major Australian broadcaster, and the opportunity to share their humour on a premier platform.”

In total 364 applications were received by ABC and Screen Australia following the callout in December 2016. From the 20 teams selected: 20% of projects are animated, 60% had key team members who identified as being from diverse backgrounds; 60% of projects funded were from creative teams (writer, producer, director and protagonist) that were at least 50% female.

Lou Porter, Acting Head of Entertainment at ABC said: “The first series of Fresh Blood unearthed some truly great talent both in front and behind the camera. We’re so excited to be running this initiative again in partnerships with Screen Australia. It’s a great platform to unearth new talent who are producing funny and compelling new content for our viewers.”

Among the projects funded are:

LEFTOVERS from the sketch comedy trio of Pippa Mills, Helena Ruse and Andrew Mills, who have established their brand of comedy through YouTube and Facebook, amassing over 1 million views for their viral videos. A sharply observed social commentary about modern insecurities, Helena and Pippa playfully parody the lives and trending obsessions of young Australian adults.

Co-Writer/Director Andrew Mills said: “This funding will allow us to expand on the world and characters we’ve created in our online videos. We hope the financial assistance from Fresh Blood will allow us greater freedom in our storytelling and production values, something we’ve long been aiming to achieve.”

THE ANGUS PROJECT from writer/director/producer Nina Oyama and starring Angus Thompson, about a hedonistic university student who happens to have cerebral palsy. Angus employs his fellow students to help him with grocery shopping, studying and – most importantly – to party like a legend. A challenging but warm take on life with a significant disability.

Nina Oyama said: “I was introduced to Angus at university and I started working as his carer shortly after we met. We bonded mostly over our love of TV, and over the years we kind of realised we’d never really seen a realistic portrayal of someone who has cerebral palsy in the mainstream media, and so together we started writing short comedic scripts about his life. We’re grateful for Fresh Blood funding because it means we’re finally able to broadcast his story on a bigger platform whilst also making a greater statement about diversity and ableism, hopefully while making people laugh too.”

LET’S BREAK EM UP, a game show spoof from stand-up comedian Nath Valvo and Tandem Media. Valvo takes to the streets of Melbourne to find unsuspecting couples and put them to the ‘love test’ – if they win the game there is absolutely no reward, and if they lose they have to break up on camera. Valvo mines the quiz genre with his trademark humour, peppered with everyday observations and a dash of social commentary.

Nath Valvo said: “I’m very grateful that Fresh Blood have the balls to back my gameshow idea! It’s exciting and also very scary that it’s someone else’s money. More than anything Fresh Blood is going to force me to finally learn Excel. I’d be lying if I said money wasn’t the key factor in getting stuff made – having ideas you love is one thing but finding the cash to film pilots and get a crew together to make it look nice is really tough. The bar is so high now for online content – there’s some YouTube stuff that’s already broadcast quality so to be given help to get this idea in front of people is really great. There’s some top notch sitcom and skit comedy around at the moment so I wanted to pitch something different. I’ve been playing a live version of the game for a couple of years now and have always thought it would be a ridiculous TV show … so … I entered!”

Absurdist comedy 1800 SUCCESS about young schemers, Aaron and Jon, who will do just about anything to scrounge up some cash – except get a job, because they’re sassy millennials who think jobs are oppressive. Aaron Chen and Jonathan Lo will write and star, with Henry Stone directing.

Henry Stone said: “Aaron and Jon are undeniably funny and they are using this as an opportunity to get a real-world education in how to speak the language of the baby boomer commissioning bureaucrat. For this I have made them defer their university degrees.”

Jon and Aaron add: “Henry our director is a total psycho and keeps making us recite what he calls his ‘industry truths’. We think iview is cool and Screen Australia is futuristic. We like doing our private comedy for new friends.”

Following the iview broadcast, ABC and Screen Australia will select four teams to progress to the second phase of Fresh Blood in 2018 who will receive $75,000 to produce a full pilot episode. Previous Fresh Blood recipients include Aunty Donna, Fancy Boy and Wham Bam Thank You Ma’am by Skit Box.

SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS (in alphabetical order)

1800 SUCCESS
Genre RowdyProducers Aaron Chen, Henry StoneDirector Henry StoneWriters Aaron Chen, Jonathan LoSynopsis 1800 Success follows two young schemers on the hunt for cash. Aaron and Jonathan need money. They always need money. This is because they’re poor little students who just want to buy textbooks and movie tickets and MDMA but they don’t want jobs because they’re also cheeky little millennials and jobs are oppressive. Each episode of 1800 Success finds them trying to lean on a subculture that they are affiliated with in order to make that crispy cashola and keep living their tasty uni student lives.

BIN CHICKENS
Genre AnimationProducers Nikos Andronicos, Dave CarterDirector Dave CarterWriter Nikos AndronicosSynopsis The animated adventures of three ibises who eat garbage and live life to the max in the jewel in Sydney’s crown, Darling Harbour.

COLLECTIVE NOUN
Genre ComedyDirectors Zach Mander, Michael ParenteWriters Zach Mander, Dom FaySynopsis Collective Noun is rebooting the ABC to be more relevant to millennials. This series of sketches will see the ABC line up adjusted to be more Gen Y focused. The ABC will have more smashed avo, more ride sharing services, and be more self-interested – just how millennials like it.

FREUDIAN NIP
Genre Sketch comedyProducer Bronte Rose JovevskiDirector Jenna Owen, Victoria Zerbst, Bronte Rose JovevskiWriters Victoria Zerbst, Jenna Owen, Jess Bush, Geraldine ViswanathanSynopsis Freudian Nip is a comedy collective from Sydney, and a champion high school cheerleading squad. After discovering its previous captain stole all their best routines from an inner-city school, they must scramble to compete at this year’s championships. May the best moves win.

HEADSWAPSIES
Genre SlapstickProducers Bec SchultzWriters/Directors Mitch McTaggart, Djovan CaroSynopsis Two stupid scientists swap heads in a vain attempt to advance medicine, but instead just lose control of their bodies.

IBIS QUEEN
Genre AnimationProducers Melody Ha, Anna Bateman, James HackettDirectors/Writers Nick Simpson, James HackettSynopsis The polar ice caps have melted and the Ibis Queen is a floating cruise ship that offers a world of infinite activities and entertainment. Captain Caveri is the debauched master of misrule on this vessel. She needs to watch her back as diving instructor Numa is trying to recruit the struggling musician Paul to help her sink the Ibis and create an aquatic haven for transgender dugongs.

KOALA MAN
Genre AnimationProducer/Director/Writer Michael CusackSynopsis Koala Man is about a local suburban superhero with no special powers but a strong and burning passion to snuff out petty crime and bring order to the community. Patrolling the streets in his 91’ Toyota Corolla, Koala Man is constantly on the lookout for trouble makers.

LEFTOVERS
Genre ComedyProducer Mark RuseDirector Andrew MillsWriters Pippa Mills, Helena Ruse, Andrew MillsSynopsis Already world-weary in their early twenties, Pippa and Helena are a couple of young people struggling not to constantly embarrass themselves. Based on the experiences of its two stars and creators, Leftovers finds the satirical in the mundane lives of young people.

LET’S BREAK EM UP
Genre Street game showProducer/Director/Writer Nath Valvo, Tandem MediaSynopsis Nath Valvo will hit the streets of Australia, hunt down unsuspecting couples and put their love to the test. If they pass the game they win nothing, if they lose they have to break up.

MARS 500
Genre Comedy sitcomProducer/Director/Writer Lewis HobbaSynopsis Mars 500 follows six astronauts pretending to travel to Mars in a fake space shuttle in Australia’s red centre. Their task is to answer a simple but important scientific question: can six people live in a tiny space shuttle for the time it takes to fly to Mars and back without killing each other? Inspired by real world events, Mars 500 tells the story of a ridiculous yet noble journey to nowhere, and the idiots who signed up for it.

NO-ONE SUSPECTED THE CAT
Genre AnimationProducer Doug BayneDirector Trudy CooperWriters David Collins, Rebecca De Unamuno, Carlo RitchieSynopsis Three improvisers enter a sound studio, three animated films come out. What will they even be about? We don’t know. Perhaps we never will.

THE ANGUS PROJECT
Genre ComedyProducer Craig Anderson, Alessandro Zotti, Nina OyamaDirector/Writer Nina OyamaSynopsis Angus Thompson is a 20 year old wheelchair bound university student with cerebral palsy who lives by himself in Bathurst NSW. Cerebral Palsy is a disease which affects motor skills, but not the brain, so Angus employs other students as disability carers to help him eat, study and clean…but most importantly, to help him party. This webseries is about Angus and his carers, and the hedonistic shenanigans they get up to.

THE BIG DAY
Genre ComedyProducers Laura Hughes. Carolina SorensenDirector Bryan MosesWriters Laura Hughes, Bryan MosesSynopsis The Big Day is a series of 3 connected sketches that celebrate the ridiculous people who manage to make someone else’s wedding all about themselves. Laura Hughes will be bringing to life all three hilarious characters; the suffocatingly considerate bridesmaid, an aggressively enthusiastic groomsman, and the self-proclaimed ‘fun mum’ of the bride. The series will also star Shari Sebbens and Christiaan Van Vuuren.

THE LOST TAPES
Genre Fake archival footageProducers Penny Greenhalgh, Stef Smith, Josh LadgroveDirector Stef SmithWriters Penny Greenhalgh, Josh LadgroveSynopsis The Lost Tapes is an offbeat, unconventional comedy starring Penny Greenhalgh and Josh Ladgrove. The three sketches will be shot as fake ‘forgotten archival footage’ from various eras and genres; so wonderfully bizarre and funny you might just believe they’re real.

TOO PRETTY TO BE WITTY
Genre Satirical sketchProducer Petra LovrencicDirectors Petra Lovrencic, Fiona GillmanWriter Fiona GillmanSynopsis A pop song about a basic bitch, a movie trailer starring Hollywood’s most stereotypical cast, and a dating game show for the career-driven independent woman. In Too Pretty To Be Witty, Fiona Gillman plays three different “types” of women, satirising the generalisations created for them by modern media and society.

TRUE MURDER
Genre Parody true-crime documentaryProducer Erasmo RaimundoDirector Greta Lee JacksonWriters Cameron James, Becky LucasSynopsis Every year hundreds of murders go unsolved – until now. Each episode, True Murder attempts to solve the most bloodcurdling, notorious (and 100% made up) crimes in Australian history. And every time, they fail embarrassingly and miserably.

WALK IN MY SHOES
Genre MockumentaryProducer Mitchell StanleyDirector Peter NizicWriter Johnny LahoudSynopsis A decade after being disqualified from the Men’s 50km Race Walking event at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, race walking legend, Herbert Seaman, is making his much anticipated comeback with the help of his wife/coach, Sandy Seaman. Feeling positive after his public mental breakdown due to his emotionally shattering disqualification, Herbert’s training to walk again, striving towards that Olympic gold medal he desperately craves.

WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?
Genre ComedyProducers/Directors Adam Murfet, Jesse OldfieldWriters Naomi Higgins, Humyara Mahbub, Mark Samual BonannoSynopsis Why Are You Like This? is about two girls, Penny and Mia, who always say the wrong thing. As they inadvertently dissect the dark side of human nature – premises that are often taboo – they swiftly move through social interactions, leaving destruction in their wake, with anyone they come across being forced to pick up the pieces. Why Are You Like This? is a dark, dialogue comedy that is unforgivingly harsh, punchy and sharp.

Is it just us, or should a talent program to unearth a “new generation” of talent only happen once in a generation? Put another way, while developing new talent is always a good idea, does anyone really think Australia in 2017 has 20 TV-ready but otherwise largely unknown sketch comedy teams out there? Especially after the last series of Fresh Blood felt like there was a fair bit of barrel-scraping going on once you looked past the top ten.

In a perfect world the ABC’s comedy talent development scheme wouldn’t be quite so much like a game show where everyone gets one go and if you crash out that’s it, but hey – taking the time to actually work with upcoming comedic talent over a period of years until they can deliver the goods is probably a little too close to hard work. We’re looking forward to Nath Valvo’s show though, he’s usually a pretty funny guy. And trying to guess which of the other shows clearly pocketed as much of the $15,000 grant as possible should be good for a laugh.